The Future of an Illusion by Freud Essay - 997 Words

The Future of an Illusion by Freud In his book The Future of An Illusion, Freud (1928) struggled to create a theory that would distinguish morality from religion so that people would still be able to know right from wrong even if they did not believe in a God. According to Freud, humans belonged to civilization to control nature and to regulate human relations. However, Freud claimed that humans have often paid a great price for civilization; this price, he believed, was neurosis. Consequently, humans began to look for some kind of compensation to confront the neurosis. Freuds theory maintained that religion often evolved as this compensation. Freud suggested that religion and ethics, to this point, have acted to maintain†¦show more content†¦(p. 21) Therefore, religious beliefs are: ...illusions, fulfillments of the oldest, strongest and most urgent wishes of mankind . . . As we already know, the terrifying impression of helplessness in childhood aroused the need forprotection-for protection through love-which was provided by the father . . . Thus the benevolent rule of a divine Providence allays our fear of the danger of life. (p. 30) Although such historical speculations fail to impress most people, Freuds psychological theories, appearing mostly in The Future of an Illusion, are a bit more credible. He made a deliberate point of refusing to grant religion any sort of privileged status among human endeavors. He put religion squarely in the middle of the larger context of human culture and thus made it as accessible to scientific investigation as any other human conduct. There were to be no sacred cows, no exemption from detailed analysis. A number of different psychological motives underlying religious impulses are discussed throughout the book and briefly in other works. A principle component for Freud was the feeling of helplessness, occurring in a number of different areas, namely external dangers, internal impulses, death, and society. As wish-fulfilling illusions, religious faith and gods had specific tasks: They must exorcize the terrors of nature, they must reconcile men to theShow MoreRelated Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesFuture of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud In his book Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud utilizes his method of psychoanalysis on religion by comparing the relationship between human and religion to that of a child and his parents. Freud effectively demonstrates that religion is a product of the human mind. After exposing religion as a an illusion, Freud concludes that humanity will be better off when it has forgone religion. This paper will argue that Freuds assertion that religion is an illusionRead MoreSigmund Freud The Future Of An Illusion Analysis1199 Words   |  5 PagesFreud gives his insights about what he defines as religion and how the societal neurosis called religion can be expunged from our lives. Freud, in his book The Future of an Illusion gives his psychoanalytical theory in trying to explain religion and postulates that the phenomenon called religion is an imagination, a mere illusion that goes beyond questioning. He suggests that science will provide us with knowledge and explanations to do away with the religious neurosis and live a life where scienceRead MoreIn The Future Of An Illusion, Sigmund Freud Gives A Genealogical1541 Words   |  7 PagesIn The Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud gives a genealogical account of religion in which he describes the religious illusion being born out of mankind’s inherent state of helplessness. 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In turn, he reveals his hope for an ideal world where humans surpass their feelings of helplessness and insignificance to live in an improved civilization based on reason and the increase of knowledge. Through his analysis and ideas, Freud is able toRead MoreThe Future Of An Illusion Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of The Future of an Illusion In Sigmund Freud’s famous philosophical work titled The Future of an Illusion, he uses psychoanalysis to explain the origins of the concept of God. He presents valid arguments as to why God is merely a concept created by humans to answer frustrating questions about life in a satisfying way, and the work seems to be sound in its entirety. However, there is an important weakness in Freud’s reasoning in that if God is meant to create order in the universe, whyRead MoreEssay about Freud Suggest Religion is an Illusion671 Words   |  3 Pages Freud in his writing suggests that religion is an â€Å"illusion.† Not your typical deception of something, rather misapprehension of religion. Additionally, Freud provides brand new eyes to look at religion and its construct of civilization. He further provides evidence of his own, as well as suggesting a psychoanalytical approach to religion. Countless times Freud referred to his own psychological ideas of development including the transition of a child to an adult development. Freud heeds, a successfulRead MorePsychology And Religion : West And East957 Words   |  4 PagesWhile preforming a psychoanalysis of religion and human development, Sigmund Freud questioned whether or not a person could be religious and mature at the same time. In Future of an Illusion, Freud came to a conclusion that one cannot be religious and mature at the same time. Religion stunts a person’s transition of becoming a mature adult. Whereas in Carl Jung’s Psychology and Religion: West and East, he believed that a person can be religious and mature at the simultaneously. Opposing, to Freud’sRead MoreReligious vs. Spiritual Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pagesand religion and the link between the two sheds light on how much of contemporary culture identifies themselves. While Schneider firmly believes that the two work in tand em, and one cannot be had without the other, the renown psychologist Sigmund Freud would unquestionably view this move away from religion as an affirmation of his theory that faith is waning as civilization advances towards science and reason. In Sandra Schneiders’ â€Å"Religion vs. Spirituality: A Contemporary Conundrum†, she clearly